[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S226-S227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING RED OAK FABRICATION

 Ms. ERNST. Madam President, in my new position as ranking 
member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 
each week I have the honor of recognizing an outstanding Iowa small 
business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. It is my 
privilege to recognize Red Oak Fabrication of Red Oak, IA, as the 
Senate Small Business of the Week for the week of January 30, 2023.
  As you will often see across our great State, small businesses and 
families go hand-in-hand in Iowa. Red Oak Fabrication of Montgomery 
County is no different. Red Oak Fabrication was founded in 1913 under 
the name Pike Machine Shop. A short decade later, management would 
decide to adopt the name that still stands today: Red Oak Fabrication. 
In 1928, Ted Fort began working at Red Oak as one of three employees. 
Through hard work and persistence, he purchased half interest in the 
company in 1944 and eventually purchased the remaining to own full 
interest in 1948. Watching their father's growing success within the 
business, it was not long before Ted's sons Bill and Jack, both 
veterans of World War II, decided to join the fold in 1946 and 1947 
respectively. Bill was responsible for starting the outside sales of 
oxygen and welding supplies, while Jack joined the sales team. Ted's 
two sons proved to be great additions to the company, especially as the 
Fort family's involvement in Red Oak Manufacturing extended beyond the 
second generation.
  The third generation of the Fort family working at Red Oak 
Fabrication began in 1978 when Ted's grandson Jeff Fort started as a 
route truck driver. Jeff eventually took over the business in 1992 and 
made a big splash in 1993 when he purchased a plasma table, the 
company's first. Jeff's son, Jacob Fort, started in 2001 following his 
graduation from college, ushering in the fourth generation of Forts. 
Jacob got his start working in indoor and outdoor sales. Jacob left the 
company in 2005, but returned in 2014 and now handles business 
development and purchasing, leading the activities at the north 
location. Jordan Fort, another one of Jeff's sons, began working at Red 
Oak Fabrication as a freshman in high school in 2004. He worked at his 
family's business every summer until his sophomore year of college. He 
now handles the powder coating as well as purchasing. In 2022, Justin 
Fort joined the business working in operations following a decade of 
work in cutting equipment manufacturing and production welding 
equipment sales.
  You can find Red Oak Fabrication in three locations in Montgomery 
County, a north, south, and central location. The central location is 
where the company started and is where the machining centers, as well 
as a Carhartt store is located. The north facility provides powder 
coating, plate rolling, manual and robotic welding, while the south 
location has their plate processing equipment. Starting as a two truck 
operation, Red Oak Fabrication has grown to include three plasma 
tables, two laser tables, and one water jet table. Clearly, a strong 
sense of business acumen runs in the Fort family as Ted's children, 
grandchildren, and even

[[Page S227]]

great-grandchildren have continued on their forefather's long road of 
growth and innovation.
  I think we can all agree that small businesses are the backbone of 
America and families are the heart. It gives me great pleasure to see 
Ted Fort's hard work transcend generations to provide vital 
manufacturing services to my home county and statewide. Therefore, I 
want to commend the Fort family for their hard work and commitment to 
keeping Red Oak Fabrication a family business, even as they continue to 
grow their enterprise, and achieve the American dream. Congratulations 
to the Fort family and the entire team at Red Oak Fabrication. I look 
forward to seeing your continued growth and success in Iowa.

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